SECOND  SERIES. 

Vol.  VII.  1883.  No.  3 


Trenton,  January  18th,  1883. 


The  Society  held  its  thirty-eighth  annual  meeting  in  the 
Supreme  Court  room,  in  the  State  House,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
M.  Hamill,  D.  D.,  President,  being- chair. 
President  Hon.  John  T.  Ntxox  being  also  present. 


The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  by  the  Record- 
ing Secretary,  and  approved. 

The  Corresponding  Secretary  submitted  the  letters 
received  since  the  last  meeting,  many  of  them  of  much  inter- 
est. Some  he  read,  and  of  others  he  gave  a brief  statement 
of  their  contents,  and  of  the  answers  returned.  Messrs.  E.  J. 
Anderson,  Samuel  C.  Brown  and  Oliver  P.  Steves,  of  Tren- 
ton: Livingston  Rutherfurd,  Alfred  Ely  and  Anthony  Q. 
Keasbey,  of  Newark;  M.  T.  Endicott,  of  May’s  Landing;  Rev. 
Oliver  Crane,  of  Morristown,  accepted  their  elections  as  Resi- 
lient Members.  Rev.  Frederick  T.  Brown,  of  Manascpian, 
declined.  Hons.  Justin  S.  Morrill,  United  States  Senator 
from  Vermont ; Samuel  A.  Green,  Mayor  of  Boston;  John 
Ward  Dean,  of  Boston,  and  Bishop  Cortlandt  Whitehead,  of 


118  V .*•.  IN  TKENTON. 

• •••••••:/::-::  : 

PittsbJirglj,  acknowledged  and  accepted  the  Honorary  Mem- 
berslifpV* Conferred.  p$bi;££&i£  Messrs.  John  K.  Allen,  of 
Lansing  jjlftht;  JdrpQtfrp  S*  Cfonover,  of  Geneva,  H.  Y.,  and 
F.  A.  Baldwin,*  ©f  .Ajflffttiwn,  made  inquiries  after  their  an- 
cestry connected  with  the  early  history  of  the  State.  Mr. 
Lewis  S.  Patrick,  of  Marinette,  Wisconsin,  inquired  after 
the  Ludington  family,  and  Mr.  L.  C.  Draper,  of  Wisconsin, 
about  Samuel  and  Joshua  Vail,  at  one  time  of  Morristown. 
Communications  from  forty-one  historical  and  other  literary 
institutions  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  the  Society’s  publi- 
cations. Hon.  Phineas  Jones,  M.  C.,  tendered  his  services  in 
obtaining  public  documents.  The  Astor  Library,  Hew  York; 
H.  S.  Department  of  the  Interior;  Brooklyn  Library;  Edison 
Light  Company;  Rev.  J.  F.  Tuttle,  D.  D.,  of  Indianapolis, 
111.;  Morristown  Jerseyman ; Messrs.  Fowler  & Lummis 
transmitted  donations  for  the  Library.  The  Maryland  His- 
torical Society  solicited  books  and  papers  referring  to  that 
State,  to  be  deposited  in  its  library.  Miss  Anna  M.  Wood- 
hull  and  Mr.  W.  W.  Evans  wrote  respecting  the  publication  of 
the  memoir  of  General  White,  by  the  former,  and  the  Histori- 
cal Society  of  Pennsylvania  made  inquiries  after  the  character 
and  extent  of  the  MSS.  of  Samuel  Smith,  the  historian,  which 
are  in  the  Society’s  Library.  J.  E.  Stillwell,  M.  D.,  of  Hew 
York,  made  inquiries  after  the  portrait  of  Aaron  Burr  in  the 
Society’s  possession.  John  Ward  Dean,  Librarian  of  Hew 
England  Historical  and  Genealogical  Society,  of  Boston, 
transmitted  information  relative  to  a proposed  issue  of  a work 
on  “English  Records,  and  Hew  England  Families.”  Elias 
M.  Bliss,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Bennington  Histori- 
cal Society,  wrote,  requesting  the  aid  of  the  Society  to  secure 
the  passage  of  a bill  before  Congress  appropriating  money 
toward  the  erection  of  memorials  of  the  Revolution.  Mr. 
Helson,  the  Recording  Secretary  of  the  Society,  transmitted 
a copy  of  the  inscription  on  the  tombstone  of  the  father  of 
Robert  Erskine,  identified  with  the  early  mining  operations  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  State,  which  he  had  found  in  Dry- 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


119 


burgh  Abbey.  Mr.  W m.  H.  Holmes,*  of  the  National  Museum, 
Washington,  inquired  after  the  manufacture  of  Indian  Wam- 
pum in  New  Jersey.  A.  D.  Schenck,  of  the  2d  Artillery, 
United  States  Army,  gave  the  parentage  of  Catharine  Van 
Brugh,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  William  Tennent.  Edwin 
Salter,  of  Washington,  advocated  the  celebration  of  the  ap- 
proaching bi-centennial  of  the  New  Jersey  Legislature,  and 
various  communications  from  different  gentlemen  related  to 
miscellaneous  subjects.  The  extent  of  the  correspondence 
indicated  the  estimation  in  which  the  operations  and  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Society  are  held. 

The  Treasurer  made  a report  of  the  receipts  and  expen- 
ditures on  account  of  the  different  funds  of  the  Society;  the 
balance  of  cash  available  for  general  expenses  being  $1,781.20. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  that  on  this  occasion 
they  had  nothing  of  a special  nature  to  present,  and  regretted 
that  they  could  not  announce  such  improvements  in  the  con- 
dition of  the  Society  as  would  have  resulted  had  their  appeals 
made  in  previous  reports  been  favorably  considered.  The 
Committee  on  the  Library,  in  their  report,  would  show  that 
their  exertions  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  Society  by  the 
formation  of  a permanent  fund,  whence  to  meet  certain 
expenditures,  had  not  been  successful,  and  it  remains  for 
the  members  to  decide  upon  the  propriety  of  further  pros- 
ecuting their  plans  in  that  direction.  The  Library  has 
received  many  valuable  contributions  during  the  year,  from 
individuals  and  kindred  institutions;  but  the  funds  on  hand 
have  not  admitted  of  the  purchase  of  many  volumes  that 
were  desirable  to  supply  vacancies. 

The  Committee  left  the  subject  of  the  Finances  to  the 
careful  consideration  of  the  members,  as  a matter  in  which 
all  should  be  interested.  “ It  would  seem  to  be  obligatory,” 
said  the  Committee,  “upon  all  connected  with  the  Society  to 
use  their  influence  in  every  way  likely  to  insure  greater  use- 
fulness, and  especially  by  adding  to  the  number  of  its  mem- 


bz-nso 


120 


MEETING  IN  TRENTOlL 


hers,”  and  in  this  connection  they  are  led  to  quote  the  advice 
of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.,  proffered  to  the  founders 
of  the  Society  in  1845:  “Search  for  men  who  are  never  idle; 
who  love  labor;  and  above  all,  who  love  to  labor  for  the  public 
good;''  the  venerable  divine  concluding  his  advice  to  those 
who  love  the  cause  the  Society  was  intended  to  subserve,  not 
to  rely  too  much  upon  others,  “but  be  ever  on  the  watch  to 
do  all  they  can  themselves,  as  if  they  were  the  only  members/’ 

The  Committee,  on  Publications  reported  the  issue  of 
another  number  of  the  “ Proceedings,”  since  the  last  meeting; 
being  No.  2 of  Volume  VII,  Second  Series,  bringing  the 
printed  records  down  to  the  present  time. 

The  Committee  on  the  Library  reported  that  “the 
Donations  to  the  Library  received  since  the  May  meeting, 
from  societies  and  individuals,  have  been  eighty- two  bound 
volumes,  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  pamphlets  and  twenty- 
three  manuscripts,  many  of  them  of  much  interest;  but  the 
number  is  not  as  large  as  the  Committee  have  had  the  pleasure 
to  acknowledge  on  previous  occasions.  It  was  proposed, 
when  the  Society  was  formed,  that  there  should  be  one  mem- 
ber, at  least,  elected  from  each  county  who  should  feel  it  to 
be  his  duty,  as  well  as  his  pleasure,  to  secure,  by  every  means 
in  his  power,  books  and  papers  referring  to  the  history  of 
such  counties,  to  be  deposited  in  the  Library  of  the  Society. 
It  is  desirable  to  have  such  a course  pursued  now. 

“ The  Committee  regret  that  they  cannot  make  as  favorable 
a report  of  the  condition  of  the  Library  Fund  as  the  needs 
of  the  Society  render  desirable.  The  circular  which  they 
reported  at  the  last  meeting,  and  which  met  the  approval  of 
the  Society,  was  generally  distributed  among  the  members, 
but  the  responses  received  were  far  short  of  the  expectations 
reasonably  entertained,  both  as  to  the  number  of  subscribers 
and  the  amount  contributed. 

“ All  the  subscriptions  for  the  year  were  paid,  and  there 
remained  available  for  1883  only  $175;  the  result  of  seven 
subscriptions  unexpired.  The  Committee  await  the  instruc- 


MEETING  iN  TRENTON. 


121 

tions  of  the  Society  as ‘to  continuing  their  exertions  in  this  or 
any  other  plan,  to  secure  the  very  desirable  object  in  view. 
There  seems  to  be  no  good  reason  why  the  New  Jersey  His- 
torical Society  should  not  meet  with  success  in  securing  a 
small  endowment,  when  kindred  institutions  in  other  States 
are  furnished  with  buildings,  and  money  sufficient  to  advance 
their  efforts,  through  the  abundant  liberality  of  individuals.” 

On  motion  of  Mr.  W.  A.  Whitehead,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  the  Library  be  requested  to  continue 
their  exertions  to  secure  an  increase  of  the  Library  Fund  in  any  way  they 
may  think  advisable. 

The  Committee  on  Colonial  Documents  reported  that 
since  the  last  meeting  two  more  volumes  of  the  Archives 
(Vol.  V and  VI)  had  been  printed.  These  included  all  the 
documents  it  was  thought  proper  to  preserve  in  this  form,  of 
dates  down  to  1747.  They  submitted  a copy  of  their  letter 
to  Governor  Ludlow,  informing  him  of  the  progress  made, 
and  asking  for  his  influence  in  obtaining  further  appropria- 
tions from  the  Legislature,  the  work  in  which  they  were 
engaged  being  for  the  State.  In  this  connection  it  should  be 
stated  that  the  Hon.  Bennington  F.  Randolph,  of  Jersey  City, 
had  written  to  the  Secretary:  “It  is  important  to  urge  the 
continued  publication  by  the  State,  of  the  historical  materials 
which  have  been  collected  by  gentlemen  who  have  bestowed 
much  time,  care  and  labor  in  their  preparation.  The  expense 
is  not  great.  The  State  can  as  well  afford  to  finish  the  publi- 
cation now  as  at  any  future  time.  The  materials  proposed 
for  publication  will  shed  light  and  afford  information,  bear- 
ing on  private  titles  to  real  estate,  on  questions  connected 
with  State  domain,  State  boundary  and  State  and  local  gov- 
ernment and  authority.” 

The  Committee  on  Nominations  reported  the  names  of 
gentlemen  that  had  been  referred  to  them,  with  a recommend- 
ation that  they  should  be  elected.  , They  were  then  balloted 
for  and  elected. 


122 


meeting  in  trexton. 


^Hfmbrrs  (Gcctrrt  sjJanuarjj  is,  iS83. 

RESIDENT  MEMBERS. 


Peter  Ballantine, 

Amzi  Dodd, 

Rev.  Edward  H.  Camp, 

E.  L.  B.  Godfrey,  M.D., 
John  S.  Irick, 

George  H.  Lambert, 
Theodore  Macknet,  - 
John  R.  McPherson, 
Nathan  S.  Roe,  - 
A.  Pennington  Whitehead, 


Newark. 

- Newark. 
Newark. 

- Camden. 
Vincentown. 

- Newark. 
Newark. 

- Jersey  City. 
Filmore,  Monmouth  Co. 

Newark. 


CORRESPONDING  MEMBERS. 

William  Bross,  -----  Chicago,  III. 
Grover  Cleveland,  - - - Albany,  N.  Y. 


HONORARY  MEMBERS. 

Hamilton  Fish,  -----  New  York. 
Horace  Porter,  ------  New  York. 


The  President  announced  the  Standing  Committees  for  the 
ensuing  year,  as  follows: 

Finances — Joseph  N.  Tuttle,  L.  Spencer  Goble,  Charles 
E.  Young,  Elias  N.  Miller,  James  D.  Orton. 

Publications — W.  A.  Whitehead,  S.  H.  Pennington,  M.D., 
John  Hall,  D.D.,  Joseph  N.  Tuttle,  George  W.  Atherton. 

Library — Stephen  Wickes,  M.D.,  Robert  F.  Ballantine, 
W.  A.  Whitehead,  Frederick  W.  Ricord,  Aaron  Lloyd. 

Statistics — N.  Norris  Halsted,  F.  W.  Jackson,  Arthur 
Ward,  M.D.,  William  Nelson,  William  S.  Stryker. 

On  Nominations — William  Nelson,  Rev.  Robert  B.  Camp- 
field,  Garret  D.  AY.  Vroom. 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


123 


On  motion  of  Mr.  R.  Wayne  Parker,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  it  be  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the  Publication  of 
Colonial  Documents,  to  inquire  as  to  the  character  of  the  documents  relat- 
ing to  our  colonial  history,  to  which  Mr.  Benjamin  F.  Stevens  has  lately 
obtained  access  in  England,  with  power  to  take  such  measures,  in  their 
discretion,  as  will  tend  to  secure  copies  of  such  of  them  as  may  refer  to  the 
State  of  New  Jersey. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Society  it  is  highly  important  that 
a complete  copy  of  all  documents  in  the  English  record  offices,  relating  to 
all  the  American  colonies  should  be  accessible  in  America,  and  that  a 
committee  of  three  be  appointed  by  the  Chair  to  urge  upon  the  United 
States  authorities  such  action  as  will  obtain  such  copies  for  the  Congres- 
sional Library,  and  if  possible,  cause  the  same  to  be  printed. 

The  President  appointed  R.  W.  Parker,  John  T.  Nixon 
and  Marcus  L.  Ward  as  the  committee  authorized  in  the  last 
resolution. 

Referring  to  a bill  before  Congress  for  the  purposes  named, 
brought  specially  to  the  notice  of  the  Secretary  by  the  Ben- 
nington Historical  Society,  Mr.  Whitehead  offered  the 
following  resolutions  which  were  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  has  observed  with 
great  satisfaction,  the  action  of  the  United  States  Congress,  in  aiding 
associations  in  the  erection  of  monuments  to  commemorate  the  battles 
of  the  American  Revolution,  and  earnestly  hopes  that  such  favorable 
legislation  may  be  had  in  future  that  all  important  fields,  where  the  blood 
of  our  patriot  fathers  was  heroically  consecrated  to  bring  this  nation  into 
existence,  may  be  marked  by  appropriate  monuments,  and  that  like  legis- 
lation may  be  had  to  aid  associations  designed  to  preserve  memorials  of 
other  important  events  during  that  period. 

Resolved,  That  a copy  of  the  foregoing  resolution  be  forwarded  to  the 
Senators  and  Representatives  of  New  Jersey. 


Mr.  Samuel  Allinson  read  to  the  Society  a communica- 
tion from  the  Department  of  the  Interior,  which  he  had 
received,  relative  to  the  emigration  from  New  Jersey,  of 
certain  Delaware  Indians,  natives  of  the  State;  for  which  the 
thanks  of  the  Society  were  returned  to  Mr.  Allinson,  and  the 
document  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Publications. 


124 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


The  President  haying  appointed  Messrs.  Dr.  C.  L.  Pearson, 
J.  H.  Stewart  and  Rev.  A.  H.  Brown  a committee  to  nominate 
officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  they  reported  the  following 
gentlemen,  who  were  thereupon  elected: 

President — Samuel  M.  Hamill,  D.D.,  Lawrenceville. 

Vice-Presidents— John  T.  Nixon,  Trenton;  John  Clement, 
Haddonfield;  Samuel  H.  Pennington,  M.D.,  Newark. 

Corresponding  Secretary — Wm  A.  Whitehead, Newark. 

Recording  Secretary — Wm.  Nelson,  Paterson. 

Treasurer  and  Librarian — Fred.  W.  Ricord,  Newark. 

Executive  Committee — Marcus  L.  Ward,  Newark;  Rev. 
George  S.  Mott,  D.D.,  Flemington;  Samuel  Allinson,  Yard- 
ville;  N.  Norris  Halsted,  Kearny;  Joel  Parker,  Freehold; 
Joseph  N.  Tuttle,  Newark;  John  F.  Hageman,  Princeton; 
David  A.  Depue,  Newark;  Nathaniel  Niles,  Madison. 

Rev.  Allen  H.  Brown  presented  the  manuscript  of  an 
“Oration  on  the  Death  of  George  Washington,  by  the  Rev. 
Abijah  Davis,  delivered  at  Cold  Spring,  Cape  May  County,  New 
Jersey,  1799,”  to  be  deposited  in  the  Library  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Lewis  Gasson  presented  a copy  of  “Post-Bellum 
Campaigns,  1881-1882.” 

A paper  was  then  read  by  Mr.  R.  Wayne  Parker,  of 
Newark,  on  “ Money  and  Taxes  in  East  New  Jersey,”  which 
was  listened  to  with  much  interest. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Dr.  Mott,  the  thanks  of  the  Society 
were  tendered  to  Mr.  Parker,  and  he  was  requested  to  furnish 
a copy  for  the  archives  of  the  Society. 

After  some  remarks  from  Samuel  H.  Hunt,  Rev.  Dr.  Mott 
and  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  upon  the  advantages 
likely  to  be  gained  by  the  erection  of  a building  for  the 
Society,  the  subject  was  referred  to  the  Executive  Committee 
for  consideration. 

The  Society  then  adjourned,  to  meet  in  Newark  on  the 
third  Thursday  of  May  next. 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


125 


imitations  to  tUc  pbwry  ami  (i'abiuct, 

Announced  January  18th,  1883. 

From  Authors — John  K.  Allen:  Personal  Sanitary  Responsi- 
bilities.— Rev.  C.  D,  Bradlee , D.  D .,  of  Boston:  Poem  at 
the  Floral  Festival  of  the  Sunday  School  at  Harrison 
Square,  Boston. — W.  Earl  Cass:  New  Jersey  Weather  Re- 
view’.— J.  J.  DeArmas , St.  Domingo:  Las  Cenizas  de  Chris- 
tobal  Colon. — E.  J.  Donnell:  Slavery  and  Protection. — 
Franklin  P.  Rice:  Worcester  Town  Records  from  1775  to 
1783. — Leicis  Richards:  Sketch  of  the  Descendants  of  Owen 
Richards. — G.  D.  Scull:  The  Evelyns  in  America. — Gen. 
Philip  H.  Sheridan:  Record  of  Engagements  with  Hostile 
Indians  within  the  Military  Division  of  the  Missouri,  from 
1868  to  1882. — Rev.  Joseph  F.  Tuttle , D.  D.:  Annals  of 
Morris  County,  New  Jersey;  Semi-Centennial  Collections 
of  Morris  County. 

From  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture:  Report  upon 
the  Condition  of  Winter  Grain,  and  Condition  of  Farm 
Animals  of  the  United  States,  April  and  May,  1882;  Flor- 
ida, its  Climate,  Soil,  Productions,  etc. ; Report  upon  the 
Acreage  and  Condition  of  Cotton,  and  of  all  Cereals,  1882  ; 
Reports  upon  the  Area  and  Condition  of  Corn,  Cotton, 
Small  Grains,  Sorghum,  Tobacco,  etc.,  1882;  Silos  and 
Ensilage;  Report  of  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  for  the 
year  1882;  Report  upon  the  Product  and  Price  of  Principal 
Crops  of  1882;  also  Freight  Rates,  etc. 

From  United  States  Bureau  of  Education:  Circulars  of  In- 
formation of  the  Bureau  of  Education,  No.  6,  1881,  Nos.  1, 
2 and  3,  1882;  Instructions  in  Moral  and  Civil  Government; 
Pedagogic  Congress  of  Spain;  Natural  Science  in  Secondary 
Schools. 

18 


126 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


From  United  States  Department  of  the  Interior:  Of  the  45th 
Congress,  2d  Session,  Senate  Documents,  No.  12;  Report 
on  Coast  Survey;  Of  the  46th  Congress,  2d  Session,  Senate 
Executive  Documents,  Vols.  1 and  5;  Miscellaneous  Docu- 
ments, Yols.  1 and  2;  House  Executive  Documents, Yols.  1,  3, 
4,  5,  6,  7,  8, 11,  12,  15,  21,  22,  24;  Reports  of  Committees, 
Yols.  1 to  5;  Of  the  46th  Congress,  3d  Session,  Senate 
Journal;  Executive  Documents,  Yols.  1 and  3;  Reports  of 
Committees,  Yols.  1 and  2;  Journal  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, Yol.  1;  Executive  Documents,  Yols.  13  and  20 
to  27;  Reports  of  Committees,  Yols.  1 and  2;  Official  Reg- 
ister of  the  United  States;  List  of  Congressional  Documents 
from  the  20th  to  46th  Congress  inclusive;  United  States 
Geographical  and  Geological  Survey  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, by  J.  W.  Powell,  Yol.  4;  Report  of  Census  of  1860 
on  Agriculture;  also  on  Mortality  and  Miscellaneous  Sta- 
tistics. 

From  United  States  Patent  Office:  Official  Gazette  of  the 
Patent  Office,  Yol.  21,  Nos.  19  to  26;  Yol.  22,  Nos.  1 to  24; 
Alphabetical  Lists  of  Patentees,  and  Inventions  for  the  half- 
year  ending  December,  1881,  also  for  the  half-year  ending 
June,  1882. 

From  United  States  Bureau  of  Statistics:  Quarterly  Reports 
of  the  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Statistics,  relative  to  Exports, 
Imports,  Immigration,  and  Navigation  of  the  United  States 
for  1881  and  1882. 

From  United  States  War  Department:  Catalogue  of  the  War 
Department  Library;  Annual  Report  of  the  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral to  the  General  of  the  Army,  1882;  Report  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War,  1882;  Itinerary  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  co-operating  forces,  in  the  Gettysburg  Campaign,  in 
1863. 

From  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey:  Report  of 
the  Superintendent,  showing  the  progress  during  the  fiscal 
year  ending  with  June,  187S;  Appendix  to  Report  for 
1880;  Report  for  the  year  1879. 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


127 


From  Smithsonian  Institution:  Report  of  the  Board  of  Re- 
gents for  1863,  1864  and  1875;  First  Annual  Report  of  the 
Bureau  of  Ethnology  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution,  1881. 

From  Societies . — American  Antiquarian  Society:  Proceed- 
ings of  the  same,  April  26,  1882. — American  Museum  of 
Natural  History:  Report  of  1882;  Bulletin  No.  1. — Ameri- 
can Philosophical  Society:  Proceedings  of,Vol.  XX,  No.  3. — 
Astor  Library:  Memoirs,  etc.,  of  Thomas  Moore,  8 vols. — 
Brooklyn  Library:  Analytical  and  Classical  Catalogue  of. — 
Cayuga  County , N.  Y.,  Historical  Society:  Collections  of, 
No.  2. — Delaware  Historical  Society:  Memoirs  of  John  M. 
Clayton,  by  Joseph  P.  Comegysr — Essex  Institute:  Histor- 
ical Collections,  Yol.  XIX,  Nos.  1 to  6;  Bulletin  of  the 
same,  Vol.  XIV,  Nos.  1 to  6. — Illinois  Association  of  Sons 
of  Vermont:  Annual  Reports  of. — Long  Island  Historical 
Society:  Proceedings  of,  May  9,  1882 .—Massachusetts  His- 
torical Society:  Collections  of,  Yol.  VIII,  5th  Series. — 
Minnesota  Academy  of  Natural  Science:  Bulletin  of,  Vol. 
II,  Nos.  2 and  3. — Mitchell  Library , of  Glasgoiv:  Report 
on,  1882. — Neiv  England  Historical  and  Genealogical  So- 
ciety: Memorial  Biographies,  Yol.  II;  Historical  and  Gen- 
ealogical Register,  Yol.  XXXVI,  Nos.  143,  144  and  145. — 
New  Bedford  Public  Library:  Report  of  Trustees,  1881. — 
New  York  Bible  Society:  Annual  Report  of,  1882. — New 
York  Historical  Society:  Collections  for  the  Year  1878. — 
Neiv  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  Society:  Genea- 
logical and  Biographical  Record,  Yol.  XIII,  Nos.  3 and.  4. — 
New  York  Mercantile  Library:  Annual  Report,  1882. — 
Pennsylvania  Historical  Society:  The  Pennsylvania  Maga- 
zine of  History  and  Biography,  Yol.YI,  Nos.  2 and  3;  The 
Remains  of  William  Penn. — Pennsylvania  and  Neiv  Jersey 
Genealogical  Association:  Our  Ancestors.  Yol.  I,  No.  1. — 
Philadelphia  Mercantile  Library:  Bulletin,  Yol.  I,  No.  1. — 
Philadelphia  Library  Company:  Bulletin,  New  Series,  No. 
10. — Royal  Historical  Society  of  Canada:  List  of  Members 


128 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


and  Minutes  of  the  Proceedings  of  May,  1882. — Royal  His- 
torical Society  of  London:  Transactions  of,  Vol.  X. — Royal 
University  of  Norway:  Kong  Christiern  den  Forstes 
Norske  Historic;  Kong  Karl  XIV,  Johan;  Myntfundet 
fra  Graeslid  i Thydalen,  and  several  other  pamphlets. — 
Virginia  Historical  Society:  The  Official  Letters  of  Alex- 
ander Spotswood,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  Colony  of 
Virginia;  Proceedings  of  1882. — Wyoming  Historical  and 
Genealogical  Society:  Proceedings  of,  for  1882. 

From  Colleges. — Princeton  College:  Catalogus  eorum  qui 
munera  et  officia  gesserunt  quique  alicujus  gradus  laurea 
donati  sunt  in. — Yale  College:  Some  Statements  concerning 
the  late  Progress  and  present  Condition  of  the  University; 
Obituary  Record  of  the  Graduates  of  Yale  College  during 
the  year  ending  June,  1882;  In  Memoriam,  Joseph  E. 
Shepperd;  Catalogue  of  the  Officers  and  Students  for 
1882-83. 

From  State  of  Massachusetts:  Acts  and  Resolves  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  Vol.  IV. 

From  City  of  Boston:  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  City 
Hospital  of  Boston;  Report  of  the  Board  of  Health  for 
1881-82;  Fortieth  Anniversary  of  the  Election  of  Washing- 
ton P.  Gregg  as  Clerk  of  the  Common  Council  of  Boston, 

1882.  x 

From  City  of  Newark:  Annual  Message  of  Mayor  Lang,  with 
Reports  of  City  Officers  for  1882. 

From  John  K.  Allen:  The  Force  Value  of  Foods;  Report  of 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Poor,  etc.,  of  Michigan,  and 
other  pamphlets. 

From  George  W.  Barber:  Report  of  Northwestern  Branch 
of  the  National  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers. 

From  Rev . C.  D.  Bradlee , D.  D.:  Sermon  at  Installation  of 
the  Rev.  T.  Starr  King;  View  of  Boston  Storage  Ware- 
houses; Report  of  City  Hospital,  Boston;  Thanksgiving 
Proclamation. 

From  Ernest  E.  Coe:  The  Education  and  Employment  of 
Women,  by  J.  E.  Butler,  with  miscellaneous  pamphlets. 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


129 


From  George  S.  Conover : Twenty- two  old  Manuscript  Deeds, 
and  other  papers  relating  to  Monmouth  County,  N.  J. 

From  J.  B.  Davis:  Minutes  of  the  59th  Annual  Session  of 
the  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  1882. 

From  Daniel  Draper:  Abstracts  of  Registers  from  Self-Record- 
ing Instruments,  at  New  York  Meteorological  Observatory; 
Annual  Tables  for  1881. 

From  Rev . John  Ewing:  Historical  Sketch  of  Presbyterian 
Church,  Clinton,)  N.  J. 

From  Hon.  S.  A.  Green,  M.  D.,  of  Boston:  Catalogues  of 
Annual  Fair  of  New  England  Manufacturers’  and  Mechan- 
ics’ Institution;  Reply  of  E.  P.  Alexander  to  Railroad  Com- 
mission of  Alabama;  Report  of  News  Boys’  Reading-room, 
Boston. 

From  Prof.  W.  Hasbrouck : Reports  of  New  Jersey  State 
Normal  School  for  L879,  1880  and  1881. 

From  E.  Q.  Keasbey:  The  New  Jersey  Law  Journal. 

From  George  A.  Mayhew:  A Genealogical  Dictionary  of  the 
First  Settlers  of  New  England,  by  James  Savage,  4 Yols, 
8vo. 

From  Francis  J . Meeker:  Report  of  the  Underwriters’  Pro- 
tective Association,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  for  1882;  Memorial 
Services  in  honor  of  J ames  A.  Garfield,  held  at  Sea,  on  the 
Steamship  Scythia,  Sept.  26,  1881. 

From  William  Nelson:  History  of  Bergen  and  Passaic  Coun- 
ties, N.  J. ; Summary  of  the  Laws  of  New  Jersey  in  relation 
to  Public  Bridges;  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Finance  of 
Chosen  Freeholders  of  Passaic  County,  N.  J.;  Proceedings 
of  the  Board  of  Freeholders  of  Passaic  County,  for  the  year 
ending  May,  1881;  Parting  Words  to  Broadway  Reformed 
Church,  of  Paterson,  by  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Clark;  American 
Journal  of  Letters;  Census  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  1827-32; 
Annual  Report  of  the  City  Officers  of  the  City  of  Paterson 
for  the  year  ending  March  20,  1882. 

From  Rev.  S.  D.  Peet:  American  Antiquarian  and  Oriental 
Journal,  Vol.  IV,  No.  4. 


130 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


From  Charles  G.  Rockivood:  Quarter-Millennial  Anniversary 
of  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church  of  New  York. 

From  Edwin  Salter : Memorial  Services  and  Notices  of 
George  W.  Salter. 

From  E.  Tejera : Restos  de  Colon. 

From  B.  W.  Throckmorton:  Copy  of  a Letter  from  General 
Washington  to  Governor  Wharton,  Lancaster  Pa.,  on  Pub- 
lic Service,  April  5,  1778. 

From  Rev.  Joseph  Y.  Tuttle , D.  D Hand-book  of  Mormon- 
ism;  Address  at  10th  Anniversary  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  Salt  Lake  City;  Semi-Centennial  Week  at 
Wabash  College,  1882;  Semi-Centennial  of  Hopewell 
Church,  Indiana;  In  Memoriam,  Samuel  Orr  of  Evansville, 
Indiana;  In  Memoriam,  Philo  Parker  Jewett,  LL.  D. ; 
First  Annual  Report  of  the  Society  of  the  87th  Indiana 
Volunteer  Infantry. 

From,  Wm.  P.  Vail , M.  Dr  The  Moon  Hoax,  by  Richard 
Adams  Locke. 

From  Stephen  Wickes , M.  D.:  Report  of  the  Case  of  Presi- 
dent Garfield,  with  Account  of  the  Autopsy,  by  D.  W. 
Bliss,  M.  D. 

From  General  J.  G.  Wilson , of  New  York:  Copy  of  a Letter 
from  George  Washington  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  White, 
October  8,  1781,  from  the  Original  in  possession  of  General 
Wilson. 

From  Unknown:  Manuscript  Account  between  the  United 
States  and  Silas  Crane,  Collector  of  the  District  of  Little 
Egg  Harbor,  New  Jersey,  from  1805  to  1826;  The  Univer- 
sity of  the  South,  an  Address  by  its  Vice-Chancellor,  Rev. 
T.  Hodgson;  Address  by  Hon.  Andrew  J.  Bartholomew  at 
the  Reunion  of  the  Descendants  of  Lieutenant  Wm.  Bar- 
tholomew, 1882;  Address  at  the  Centennial  Celebration  of 
the  Settlement  of  Breckenridge  County,  Kentucky,  by  W. 
C.  P.  Breckenridge. 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


131 


from  and  IJapm  Submitted 


Letter  from  Hon . Justin  S.  Morrill , United  States  Senator 
from  Vermont. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  May  27,  1882. 
Dear  Sir — Your  note  of  the  19th  inst.,  and  the  diploma, 
showing*  that  I had  been  elected  an  Honorary  Member  of  the 
New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  have  been  received  and  highly 
appreciated.  The  history  of  your  State  is  of  rare  interest, 
and  is  decorated  with  the  fame  of  many  distinguished  men. 

Please  convey  my  thanks  to  your  associates  for  the  honor 
conferred,  and  I am. 

Very  truly  yours, 

JUSTIN  S.  MORRILL. 

W.  A.  Whitehead,  Esq., 

Cor.  Sec.,  N.  J.  Historical  Society. 


Letter  from  Hon.  Samuel  A.  Green . 

Mayor’s  Office,  { 

City  Hall,  Boston,  May  22,  1882.  f 

W.  A.  Whitehead,  Esq.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  New 
Jersey  Historical  Society : 

Dear  Sir — Your  letter  of  the  19th  inst.,  informing  me  of 
my  election  as  an  Honorary  Member  of  the  New  Jersey  His- 
torical Society,  and  the  copy  of  the  Constitution  and  By-laws 
of  the  Society,  were  duly  received  this  morning.  It  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  accept  the  membership,  and  I feel  highly 
honored  by  it.  I trust  that  you  will  call  on  me  for  any 
service  which  the  acceptance  implies. 

Very  respectfully, 

SAMUEL  A.  GREEK. 


132 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


Letter  from  John  Ward  Dean,  Esq. 

Society’s  House,  ) 

18  Somerset  Street,  Boston  Mass.,  > 
Saturday,  May  27,  1882.  ) 

W.  A.  Whitehead,  Esq.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  New 
Jersey  Historical  Society : 

Dear  Sir — Yours  of  the  19th  inst.,  informing  me  of  my 
election  as  an  Honorary  Member  of  the  New  Jersey  Historical 
Society,  has  been  received.  Please  convey  to  the  Society  my 
acceptance  of  said  membership,  and  my  hearty  thanks  for  the 
high  honor  done  me.  It  gives  me  much  satisfaction  to  be 
connected  with  a society  that  has  done  so  much  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  the  history  of  our  common  country,  and  whose 
roll  of  members  embraces  so  many  names  celebrated  in  history, 
science,  literature  and  statesmanship. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

JOHN  WARD  DEAN. 


Letter  from  Right  Rev.  Cortlandt  Whitehead. 

Bishop’s  House,  j 

274  Ridsre  Avenue,  Allegheny,  Pa.,  > 
May  23,  1882.  ‘ 1 

Mr.  W.  A.  Whitehead,  Corresponding  Secretary,  etc. 

Dear  Sir — Your  letter  of  the  19th  inst.,  notifying  me  of 
my  election  as  an  Honorary  Member  of  the  New  Jersey  His- 
torical Society  is  received. 

I accept  the  honor  with  thanks,  and  shall  be  happy  to  serve 
the  Society  in  any  way  possible.  I have  received  also  copy  of 
Constitution  and  By-laws,  and  certificate  of  membership,  for 
which  please  accept  my  thanks. 

Very  truly  yours, 

CORTLANDT  WHITEHEAD. 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


133 


Communication  from  the  United  States  Department  of  the 
Interior . to  Hon.  Frederick  T.  Frelinghuysen — relating 
to  certain  Delaivare  Indians,  presented  and  read  by  Hr. 
Samuel  Allinson,  of  Yardville.* 

Department  of  the  Interior,  \ 
Office  of  Indian  Affairs,  j- 

Washington,  D.  C.,  March  3,  1875.  ) 

Sir — I have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  of  the  18th  ultimo,  transmitting  one  from  Samuel 
Allinson,  dated  Yardville,  New  Jersey,  February  15,  1875,  in 
which  he  sets  forth  that  certain  Delaware  Indians,  natives,  of 
New  Jersey,  emigrated  to  New  York,  and  affiliated  with  the 
Stockbridge  Indians  in  1802;  that  the  united  tribes,  in  1824, 
removed  west  to  a tract  of  country  bought  from  the  Meno- 
monee Indians  on  Fox  river,  and  requesting  information  as 
to  the  time  they  left  Green  Bay,  in  Wisconsin,  to  what  point 
they  removed,  and  if  they  still  hold  their  tribal  relation. 

The  band  of  Delaware  Indians  referred  to  by  Mr.  Allinson, 
as  having  joined  the  Stockbridge  Indians  in  New  York,  were 
confederated  and  enrolled  with  the  Stockbridge  and  Munsee 
Indians,  when  they  removed  to  Green  Bay  from  their  home 
on  White  river  in  Indiana. 

During  the  strife  between  the  citizen  and  Indian  parties  of 
the  various  tribes  at  Green  Bay,  which  culminated  in  1838,  a 
portion  of  this  confederated  band  (consisting  of  Stockbridges, 
Munsees  and  Delawares)  memorialized  the  authorities  at 
Washington  for  permission  to  remove  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river. 

The  sixth  article  of  the  treaty  concluded  third  of  Septem- 
ber, 1839,  with  the  Stockbridge  and  Munsee  Indians,  provides 
“ that  whenever  those,  who  are  desirous  of  emigrating,  shall 
signify  their  wish  to  that  effect,  the  United  States  will  defray 
the  expenses  of  their  removal  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and 


*This  document  is  referred  to  in  Mr.  Allinsoii’s  paper  on  the  New 
Jersey  Indians,  read  before  the  Society,  January  21st,  1875. 

19 


134 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


furnish  them  with  subsistence  for  one  year  after  their  arrival 
at  their  new  homes.”  Hon.  T.  Hartley  Crawford.  Commis- 
sioner of  Indian  Affairs,  in  his  annual  report,  dated  Novem- 
ber 28,  1840,  states,  that  “regardless  of  all  preparation  for 
their  transportation  and  subsistence;  not  aware  (or,  if  they 
were,  indifferent  about  it),  whether  the  President  and  Senate 
would  confirm  the  treaty,  we  find  sixty-nine  souls  of  the 
Stockbridges,  and  one  hundred  and  five  of  the  Munsees  and 
Delawares,  under  the  chief,  Thomas  T.  Hendricks,  of  the 
former,  in  the  month  of  November,  moving  off  from  their  old 
residences  to  the  southwest  of  Missouri,  with  as  little  cere- 
mony as  if  they  were  changing  their  camp  in  the  prairie  or 
forest.  * * * * The  Department  was  informed  that  six 

more  would  emigrate  last  spring;  and  although  not  officially 
advised  of  their  arrival  west,  it  is  taken  for  granted  they  are 
now  there.” 

Richard  W.  Cummins,  United  States  Indian  Agent,  in  a 
letter  to  Major  D.  D.  Mitchell,  Superintendent  of  Indian 
Affairs,  St,  Louis,  Mo.,  dated  Fort  Leavenworth,  September 
12,  1842,  reports:  “This  little  band  of  Stockbridges,  by 
permission,  settled  on  the  Delaware  lands  near  the  Missouri 
river,  and  about  seven  miles  below  Fort  Leavenworth,  some 
time  in  February,  1840.  Since  that  time  they  have  built  for 
themselves  a number  of  neat  log  cabins,  I think  the  neatest 
hewn  logs  and  the  neatest  raised  log  cabins  I ever  have  seen. 
They  have  opened  several  small  farms,  and  have  this  year 
raised  more  Indian  corn  than  they  will  need  for  their  own 
use.  * * * The  Christian  Indians  came  with  and,  at  the 

same  time  the  Stockbridges  did,  settled  among  the  Delawares; 
they  built  comfortable  little  cabins,  and  made  small  farms.” 

In  reply  to  office  instructions  issued  August  9th,  1842, 
Agent  Cummins  reports  of  Stockbridges  and  Munsees,  and 
Munsees  and  Delawares  removed  west  of  the  Mississippi,  one 
hundred  and  eighty  souls  removed  during  the  year,  making- 
present  western  population  removed  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight,  leaving  three  hundred  and  twenty  souls  of  these  tribes 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


135 


yet  remaining  east  of  tlie  Mississippi.  Daniel  Miller,  United 
States  Indian  Agent  for  Fort  Leavenworth  Agency,  under 
date  October  1st,  1843,  reports  that  “the  Munsees  live  among 
the  Delawares,  and  may  he  property  included  with  that  tribe.” 
The  Delawares  here  referred  to  are  those  who  originally  emi- 
grated from  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  adjacent 
parts  of  New  Jersey,  and  were  the  primitive  inhabitants 
of  that  country,  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  but  sold  their  coun- 
try at  the  treaty  of  St.  Mary’s,  in  1818.”  [See  American 
Arcliceologia , page  271;  and  Report  of  Rev.  Jedediah  Morse 
to  the  Secretary  of  War,  on  Indian  Affairs,  page  90.] 

The  Stockbridges  and  Munsees  began  to  decline  from  the 
year  1848.  Superintendent  D.  D.  Mitchell,  in  a report  dated 
October  13th,  1849,  stated  that  the  Stockbridge  and  Munsee 
or  Christian  Indians  have  resided,  since  1840,  on  lands  be- 
longing to  the  Delawares,  which  they  are  unwilling  longer  to 
permit  without  compensation.  “Measures  should  betaken 
to  provide  them  with  lands  of  their  own.  A few  sections 
would  suffice  and  could  be  purchased  at  a very  reasonable 
rate.  It  would  be  better  to  purchase  from  the  Delawares,  so 
as  to  leave  these  small  industrious  bands  in  possession  of  the 
houses  and  lands  they  now  occupy  and  which  they  have  very 
considerably  improved.” 

Thomas  Mosley,  Jr.,  United  States  Agent  for  the  Kansas 
Agency,  in  a letter  to  Col.  D.  D.  Mitchell,  Superintendent  of 
Indian  Affairs,  dated  September  1,  1852,  reports:  “A  few 
Stockbridge  Indians  still  residing  in  the  Delaware  country, 
the  number  reduced  to  some  eighteen  or  twenty — but  three 
men  grown  among  them.  The  Delawares  are  opposed  to  their 
living  on  their  lands,  as  they  are  considered  by  them  g bad. 
worthless  set  of  people;  and  the  chiefs  of  the  Delaware  tribe 
have  on  several  occasions  asked  me  to  inform  the  United 
States  Government  that  they  wished  them  removed  to  their 
own  tribe,  wherever  they  might  be  located.”  [This  is  the 
last  report  given  of  the  remnant  of  the  band  residing  in 
Kansas,  and  the  probabilities  are  that  they  either  returned  to 


136 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


the.  tribe  in  Wisconsin  or  became  extinct.]  “ The  Munsee 
and  Christian  Indians  are  yet  residing  on  the  lands  of  the 
Wyandots  [purchased  from  the  Delawares  by  an  agreement 
made  December  14th,  1843,  ratified  July  25th,  1848,]  as  they 
have  done  for  the  last  six  or  eight  years,  but  the  Wyandots 
have  given  them  recently  to  understand  that  they  must  leave 
during  the  ensuing  fall  and  winter.  * * * These  Indians 

are  in  rather  a destitute  condition  as  regards  a home.  It 
would  be  a great  act  of  kindness  on  the  part  of  the  Govern- 
ment to  assign  them  a home  that  they  could  call  their  own.” 
Superintendent  Francis  Huebschman,  under  date  of  Septem- 
ber 18th,  1854,  referring  to  the  tribe  in  Sliowano  County, 
Wisconsin,  reports  as  follows:  “The  Stockbridges  seem  to 
consist  of  the  remnants  of  the  Mahikennek  tribe,  with  acces- 
sions, by  adoption,  by  purchase  of  interests  in  their  lands,  or 
otherwise,  of  remnants  of  the  Narragansett,  Pequot,  Penob- 
scot and  Delaware  tribes  or  bands  of  Indians,  an  admixture 
of  some  Avhite  and  some  African  blood,  and  of  some  persons 
who  seem  to  be  of  pure  European  and  others  of  pure  African 
extraction.  Their  present  number  is  about  three  hundred 
and  sixty.”  The  Munsees,  in  a treaty  with  the  Delawares, 
secured  a tract  of  four  sections,  which  they  afterward  sold  in 
1857,  to  A.  J.  Isacks.  These  Indians,  by  virtue  of  the  treaty 
made  and  concluded  July  16th,  1850,  with  the  Swan  Creek 
and  Black  River  Chippewas  and  the  Munsee  or  Christian  In- 
dians, were  confederated  with  the  said  Chippewas,  and  in  the 
annual  report  dated  November  30th,  1860,  Commissioner 
Greenwood  states  that  forty  acres  of  land  each  have  been  al- 
lotted to  eighty-four  members  of  the  united  bands  of  Swan 
Creek  and  Black  River  Chippewas  and  Christian  or  Munsee 
Indians  of  Kansas,  who  have  no  power  of  alienation,  but 
merely  hold  the  lands  by  certificates  of  allotments  issued  by 
this  Bureau.  These  leases  are  within  the  Chippewa  Reserva- 
tion in  Franklin  County,  Kansas. 

From  the  foregoing  extracts  I am  led  to  conclude  that  the 
Delaware  Indians  referred  to  in  Mr.  Allin  son’s  letter  removed 


Meeting  i N Trenton* 


137 

With  the  Stockbridges  and  Munsee^,  .with,  whm.n.’they  confed- 
erated, west  of  the  Mississippi  kj/ 4 8^0/ ‘living  their  homes 
in  November,  1839,  and  reaching  their  4eetinatiori in  Kansas 
in  February,  1840;  that  : beijoirie  extinct;- so  far  as 

refers  to  those  who  confectera£ed,  .with  7Jiq*tStdckbridges  of 
Kansas;  that  but  few,  if  any,  ^eipkin^jweF’wiflr  the  Stock- 
bridges  in  Showano  County,  Wisconsin,  or  with  the  Munsees 
or  Chippewas  in  Franklin  County,  Kansas. 

The  communication  of  Mr.  Allinson  is  herewith  returned. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

EDW.  P.  SMITH, 

Commissioner. 

Hon.  F.  T.  Frelinghuysen,  U.  S.  Senate . 


TREASURER’S  REPORT. 


138 


MEETING  IN  TRENTON. 


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MEETING  IN  TRENTON.  139 

ASSETS. 

REAL  AND  PERSONAL  ESTATE. 

1883. 

Jan.  13,  Property  on  Bank  street $8,000  00 

Books  and  furniture 7,000  00 

Total  real  and  personal  estate $15,000  00 

BARRON  FUND. 

In  American  Trust  Company $3,813  22 

“ Howard  Savings  Institution 778  02 

“ Newark  “ “ 429  25 

Total  Barron  Fund 5,020  49 

LIFE  MEMBERS’  FUND. 

In  Howard  Savings  Institution $585  38 

“ Dime  “ “ 671  24 

“ American  Trust  Company 376  07 

Total  Life  Members’  Fund $1,632  69 

AVAILABLE  FOR  CURRENT  EXPENSES. 

In  Howard  Savings  Institution $1,353  68 

“ Newark  Banking  Company... 427  52 

Total 1,781  20 

Total  amount  of  assets. . . $23,434  38 


\ 


» 


TAXES  AND  MONEY 

IN 

✓ 

NEW  JERSEY 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 

BY  R.  WAYNE  PARKER. 


A Paper  read  before  the  New  Jersey  Historical 
Society , January  18 thy  1883. 


paxt  ■ 


TAXES  AND  MONEY  IN  NEW  JERSEY. 


It  is  as  hard  to  realize  the  infancy  of  a State,  as  for  a grown 
man  to  think  of  himself  as  a child;  to  go  back  to  the  time 
when  powers  were  untrained  and  habits  unformed,  and  to 
believe  in  his  childish  griefs,  quarrels,  hopes  and  fears,  w*eak- 
ness  and  dependence.  So,  too,  in  the  affairs  of  a State,  it 
is  hard  to  look  back  to  the  days  when  New  Jersey  was  an 
almost  unbroken  forest,  with  a few  inhabitants  busy  at  whal- 
ing, tar  making,  oystering,  lumbering,  or  plain  and  simple 
farming;  when  our  cities  were  hamlets,  our  roads  mere  trails; 
our  industries  confined  to  those  of  the  simplest  country  life; 
when  our  Governors  wTere  mostly  men  sent  from  a distant  land, 
months  away  in  point  of  communication;  when  those  Gover- 
nors, in  consequence,  were  entirely  out  of  sympathy  with  the 
Quakers,  Independents  and  Dutch  Protestants  that  formed 
most  of  our  population,  and  whose  jealousies  of  King  and 
Bishop  were  as  fierce  as  the  wrongs  and  contempt  which  they 
had  had  to  endure;  when  these  jealousies  and  hatreds,  amid 
new  and  unsettled  colonial  governments  and  land-titles, 
caused  unceasing  quarrel;  when  settlements  were  confined  to 
the  sea  coast,  when  French  and  Indians  made  constant  advances 
on  the  north  and  west,  and  when  the  connection  of  the  Colo- 
nies with  the  home  country  was  endangered  in  England 
itself  by  the  strifes  of  Jacobites  and  Hanoverians. 

But  the  child  is  the  father  of  the  man,  and  even  in  this  in- 
fant Colony  can  be  discerned  the  growth  of  the  industries  that 
now  make  the  State  chief  for  her  size  and  population  in  indus- 


144 


TAXES  AX'D  MONEY  IN  NEW  JERSEY 


trial  energy.  Yet  such  progress  is  hard  to  put  into  history. 
We  find  reams  of  documents  as  to  quarrels  and  riots,  which,  like 
waves  of  the  sea,  made  much  disturbance,  but  interfered 
little  with  the  unseen  ocean-currents  of  industry,  of  which 
little  record  remains.  Even  the  statutes  are  incomplete. 
Some  of  the  originals  are  lost.  There  is  a single  copy  in  the 
State  Library,  but  that  is  defective.  Much  information  is  to 
be  found  in  the  English  records  and  correspondence  as  kept 
by  the  Lords  of  Trade  and  Plantations.  A copy  of  such  of 
these  records  as  referred  to  New  Jersey,  or  seemed  so  to  do,  is 
contained  in  some  twenty  volumes  of  MSS.  in  the  State 
Library,  and  selections  are  now  being  published.  But  in  all 
these  materials  we  find  little  that  is  definite  as  to  the  condi- 
tion of  the  people,  except  what  can  be  deduced  from  colonial 
finances  and  taxes.  Figures  are  dry  work,  but  it  is  from 
figures  only  that  we  can  read  the  romance  of  astronomy, 
with  its  wondrous  circles  and  cycles;  and  from  figures  only 
can  we  trace  the  more  wondrous  and  dark  circles  of  human 
progress. 

England  is  now  the  commercial  power  of  the  globe,  but  she 
was  far  from  that  when  this  State  was  settled.  Her  colonies 
were  young  in  the  time  of  Charles  II,  while  those  of  Spain 
were  old  and  flourishing.  Holland  was  her  more  than  suc- 
cessful rival  in  war  and  peace,  sending  fleets  even  into  the 
Thames,  and  driving  her  navy  from  the  seas.  The  East  India 
Company  were  a small  corporation.  Her  manufactures  were 
contemptible.  The  Kingdom  was  impoverished  by  late  civil 
wars,  and  broken  by  factions. 

Her  finances  were  in  awful  disorder.  The  Crown  took 
presents  from  France,  who  then  under  Louis  NIV  was  the 
leading  power  of  the  Continent.  The  great  credit  system  of 
the  National  Debt  and  the  Bank  of  England  did  not  yet  exist. 
Spain  controlled  the  gold  and  silver  of  theworld,  and  silver 
was  still  the  chief  metal.  The  English  Government  was 
bankrupt.  It  had  confiscated  the  merchants’  funds  in  its 
hands,  and  repudiated  its  seamen’s  wages.  Fire  and  plague 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 


145 


had  crippled  London.  The  coin  had  been  clipped  and  muti- 
lated till  it  was  often  one-half  or  one-third  its  true  value. 

Macaulay  has  graphically  described  the  brave  and  terrible 
measure  by  which  the  coinage  was  reformed  in  England  under 
William  III,  and  by  which  all  the  old  clipped  coin  was  ordered 
out  of  circulation,  and  new  milled  pieces  introduced.  He  has 
described,  too,  the  consequent  distress,  difficulty  and  absence 
of  all  circulating  medium,  and  the  relief  which  finally  ensued 
from  the  new  coin.  But  in  the  Colonies  no  such  relief  was 
felt.  The  few  shillings  that  they  had  could  not  be  called 
in  immediately.  Besides,  here,  as  in  the  rest  of  the  world,  the 
money  in  use  was  not  so  often  the  English  shilling  as  the 
dollar,  which,  under  the  various  names  of  “ Pieces  of  Eight,” 
“Mexican  Pieces,”  “ Portugals,”  “Peruvian  Pieces,”  etc., 
was  the  money  of  all  Europe,  and  so  continued  until  the 
French  Revolution.  But  for  the  debasement  of  the  hard 
dollar  in  Germany,  Spain  and  Portugal,  and  its  consequently 
uncertain  value,  it  would  now  have  been  the  coin  of  the  com- 
mercial world,  and  was,  therefore,  selected  by  the  framers  of 
our  Constitution.  It  is  since  their  day  that  France  and  Ger- 
many have  abandoned  the  debased  rix-dollars  (worth  eighty 
cents  in  Bremen,  and  but  a few  cents  in  Portugal),  to  intro- 
duce the  franc  and  mark. 

But  about  the  year  1700,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  the 
dollar  was  the  coin  of  the  Colonies,  exchangeable  for  shillings 
at  various  rates,  not,  however,  as  now,  for  a little  over  four 
shillings,  but  for  six,  eight  and  ten;  the  shilling  not  having 
a real  currency  here,  and  being  clipped,  or  otherwise  muti- 
lated and  useless  for  foreign  trade. 

It  would  have  done  much  perhaps  for  England  if  she  had 
made  herself  one  with  her  Colonies  by  introducing  here  the 
milled  shilling  and  sterling  money.  But  that  seemed  too 
radical  a measure  for  the  weaker  spirits  who  followed  the 
great  William.  Accordingly,  the  foundation  of  a separate 
provincial  coinage  was  laid,  by  a proclamation  of  Queen  Anne, 
in  which  our  present  silver  dollar  of  seventeen  pennyweights 


146 


TAXES  AKD  MONEY  IN  NEW  JERSEY 


and  a fraction  of  silver,  under  seven  or  eight  different  names, 
was  ordered  to  be  taken  at  four  shillings  and  six  pence,  and 
no  more,  under  heavy  penalties.  By  this  proclamation, 
however,  no  real  effect  was  produced.  The  dollar  in  silver 
usually  passed  for  at  least  six  shillings,  so  that  the  shilling 
was  equal  to  sixteen  and  two-third  cents,  the  pound  to  three 
and  one-third  dollars,  and  the  penny  to  a little  under  two 
cents.  Thus  the  Colonies  were  made  in  trade  a foreign 
country  from  England. 

Of  any  money,  however,  there  was  little  in  the  infant  State. 
It  is  hard  to  realize  how  weak  and  small  we  were  for  a 
century  and  a half  after  the  settlement  of  New  Englancj.,  and 
for  fifty  years  after  that  emigration  thence  of  1660-1680, 
which  gave  us  the  nucleus  of  our  population.  In  1673,  West 
Jersey  sold  for  £1,000.  Land  was  plenty,  and  (1677)  seventy 
acres  apiece  were  given  to  emigrants.  Two  pence  a year  per 
acre  was  the  usual  quit-rent  in  West  Jersey  for  the  best  land. 
Of  any  money,  they  had  little.  Indians  were  paid  in  wampum 
or  goods.  Between  themselves,  the  Colonists  used  “ leaver  ” 
pay  (New  Jersey  Archives,  1685,  p.  504),  otherwise  called 
“country”  pay,  and  £10  in  such  pay,  or  say  $30,  would  clear 
a servant  of  four  years’  service.  Taxes  during  a hundred 
years  could  always  be  paid  in  wheat  at  a small  deduction  from 
its  price  in  New  York  or  Philadelphia. 

The  population  was  small  and  exclusively  devoted  to  trap- 
ping,, lumbering  and  farming:  for  lumber,  furs  and  a little 
wheat  were  its  only  staples.  In  1701  West  Jersey  had  832 
freeholders.  The  whole  State  had  about  16,000  inhabitants. 
The  growth  was  constant  until  at  the  Revolution  there  were 
about  120,000.  But  there  were  no  great  centres  as  now.  In 
1726  there  were  about  30,000  people,  of  whom  Monmouth 
had  4,400;  Middlesex,  Essex,  Burlington,  Hunterdon  and 
Salem  between  3,000  and  4,000  each;  Somerset,  1,800;  and 
Cape  May,  654.  The  relative  population  of  these  counties 
was  much  the  same  up  to  the  Revolution,  though  Hunterdon 
was  the  growing  county,  raising  in  1766,  out  of  a tax-levy  of 


Before  the  revolution. 


147 


£15.000,  oyer  £2.000;  while  Burlington  and  Monmouth  iappear 
for  £1,600  odd;  Middlesex  and  Somerset  for  £1,300;  Essex 
and  Gloucester  for  £1,100;  Salem  and  Morris  for  £1,000; 
Bergen,  including  the  now  great  cities  of  Hudson  county, 
for  £996;  Cumberland,  £578  and  Cape  May,  £250. 

It  was  thus  a scattered  farming  population,  richest  where 
the  land  was  best.  The  rest  of  the  country  was  waste.  In 
1705  the  woods  are  full  of  wild  horses,  and  horse  hunting  is 
in  vogue  (Archives,  IV.,  79).  Our  “Swinefield  ” road  in  our 
own  county,  tells  of  the  old  practice  of  driving  swine  and 
cattle  in  the  fall  to  the  woods  and  meadows  of  the  Great 
Piece.  The  Statute-books  of  that  day  are  full  of  acts  against 
letting  horses  run  at  large,  and  one  curious  act  concerning 
rams  survives  to  this  day.  Only  one-fifth  of  East  Jersey  lands 
was  located  in  1770.  In  the  returns  of  the  Governors  to 
the  Lords  of  Trade  it  is  reiterated  again  and  again  that 
there  were  no  manufactures  and  no  trade  except  through  New 
York  and  Philadelphia.  A few  iron  mines  were  opened. 
Some  potash  was  made  on  trial.  But  the  staples  reported  are 
always  the  same — lumber,  tar  and  wheat. 

Nor  was  it  a very  productive  population,  measured  by  the 
returns  of  commerce.  The  sugar  and  tobacco  Colonies  did  a 
large  trade,  and  were  highly  prized  by  England.  In  1718, 
the  Plantation  exports  to  England  were  estimated  at  £1,000,- 
000;  of  which  New  York  sent  only  £27,000  and  New  Eng- 
land, £41,000,  while  St.  Christopher  sent  £88,000;  Virginia 
and  Maryland,  £317,000;  Jamaica  and  Barbadoes  together, 
£595,000.  The  imports  were  in  like  proportion  and  amounted 
to  £700,000.  The  difference  of  £300,000  went  to  rich  planta- 
tion owners  in  England,  and  the  Lords  of  Trade  represent  to 
the  King,  as  deductions  from  this  table,  that  “the  sugar  and 
tobacco  Colonies  are  of  greatest  advantage,  ;and  deserve  most 
regard.  The  others  are  most  populous,  produce  more  of 
what  England  does,  and  are  capable  of  subsisting  without 
any  dependence  on  it.”  Besides,  “ they  supply  the  sugar 
Colonies  with  provisions  and  manufactures  which  England 


148 


taxes  And  money  in  new  Jersey 


had  formerly  the  advantage  of  furnishing  them,  and  carry 
back  sugar  and  other  produce,  which  is  consumed  there,  and 
the  benefit  is  lost  ” The  proportions  of  trade  are  now  a hun- 
dred-fold reversed,  and  why?  Because,  though  little  trade 
came  to  New  York  or  New  Jersey,  or  went  from  them,  they 
had  a wealth  that  statisticiaus  and  Lords  of  Trade  are  wont 
to  pass  over,  even  in  our  day — a people  who  tilled  their  own 
fields,  sat  at  their  own  firesides,  and  doubled  in  number  every 
twenty-five  years.  The  far-seeing  patriot  will  never  be 
deceived  by  mere  figures  as  to  manufacture  and  trade.  He 
will  look  at  the  homes  and  the  men. 

But  these  people  had  very  little  money-  Like  all  agricul- 
tural populations,  they  were  in  debt.  Money  goes  where  it 
can  be  turned  over  and  over,  not  to  the  woods  and  fields. 
Again  and  again  we  find  complaint  of  the  lack  of  money,  even 
to  make  exchanges,  banks  and  capital  to  lend  on  mortgage, 
or  invest,  were  wanting. 

Even  the  humblest  home  products  were  made  under  the 
constant  and  jealous  inspection  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  and 
the  Governors,  who  were  required  to  prevent  traffic  in  linen 
or  woolen  goods  made  in  the  Colonies,  and  to  close  all  rolling 
or  slitting  mills,  and  forges  with  trip-hammers  for  carrying 
iron  beyond  the  state  of  the  pig  or  the  bloom.  The  Gover- 
nor actually  had  to  report  the  homespun  of  Somerset;  for 
which  he  apologizes,  saying  that  a few  sheep  must  be  kept 
for  good  farming,  and  that  the  home-made  garments  really 
cost  more  but  employed  the  otherwise  idle  hands.  Indeed, 
the  Colonists  needed  little  money.  With  game,  oysters  and 
fish,  free  range  for  cattle,  plenty  of  skins  for  the  universal 
leather  breeches,  and  wool  for  homespun,  they  lived  comfort- 
ably so  long  as  they  could  keep  clear  of  taxes. 

Those  they  did  keep  clear  of.  We  taxed  mortals  hardly 
understand  the  seeming  suddenness  of  the  stand  taken  by 
our  forefathers  against  British  taxation.  We  submit  to  in- 
novations and  tyrannies  enough, — to  elevated  railroads,  un- 
derground boilers,  electric  light  wires  charged  with  death- 
currents,  taxes  and  assessments.  It  generally  takes  time  and 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION". 


149 


some  good  reason  for  the  whole  community  to  wake  to  a 

grievance.  We  understand  the  Colonial  resistance  to  taxes 
© 

better  when  we  find  that  “ no  taxation  ” had  been  the  people’s 
war-cry  for  fifty  years  before  the  Revolution. 

Yet  these  taxes  were  very  small.  The  whole  expenses  of 
Colonial  Covernment  rose  slowly  from  £1,000,  in  1702,  to 
£3,000,  in  1770,  or  from  $3,300  to  $10,000.  In  1883,  with  a 
population  only  ten  times  as  large,  we  pay  one  hundred  times 
as  much  for  State  Government  and  as  much  more  for  School 
Tax,  and  this  for  the  State  Tax  alone,  which  in  most  places 
is  a tithe  of  those  city  and  county  taxes  of  which  our  forefa- 
thers had  none.  Per  capita,  we  pay  from  fifty  to  one  thou- 
sand times  as  much  as  they  did.  Of  course,  this  shows  in- 
creased wealth  as  well  as  increased  taxation.  But  by  the 
value  of  property,  their  tax  was  very  small,  as  we  shall  see. 
At  most  it  was  the  same  percentage  on  the  income  of  im- 
proved lands  as  we  now  pay  on  the  value  of  all  lands. 

The  real  cause  of  their  jealousy  of  taxation  was  that,  of 
the  whole  amount  raised,  about  half  went  to  the  Governor  or 
in  rent  of  his  house,  and  that  the  Governor  was  often  a for- 
eigner, and  always,  or  almost  always,  the  centre  of  a clique 
who  were  odious  to  the  people.  He  was  at  best  more  tole- 
rated than  liked.  Colonial  government  by  a favorite  of  the 
Crown  or  of  the  London  trade  management, — who  was  al- 
ways looking  to  England  for  promotion,  while  he  haughtily 

requested  support  for  his  high  mightiness  from  the  people 

\ 

here,  and  at  the  bidding  of  his  patrons  negatived  the  most 
desired  laws, — such  government  had  the  advantage  of  rousing 
a jealousy  and  vigilance  which  were  probably  more  conducive 
to  true  freedom  than  what  we  now  call  popular  institutions. 
Certainly,  the  Governor  had  no  sinecure.  Depending  for 
office  on  the  favor  of  distant  English  monopolists  and  grand- 
ees, who  sent  him  the  most  intricate  instructions,  and  looking 
for  his  support  to  a Provincial  Assembly  who  knew  their  own 
affairs  much  better  than  he,  and  were  determined  to  have 
their  way,  the  best  Governors  (such  men  as  Burnet,  Belcher 
21 


150 


TAXES  ANl)  MONEY  IN  NEW  JERSEY 


and  Bernard)  got  along  by  ceaseless  attentions  and  flattery 
to  both  parties,  while  pressing  on  each  the  need  of  mutual 
concession.  Under  the  unpopular  Governors,  whether  lordly 
dare-devils,  like  Cornbury,  or  ambitious  and  self-willed  men, 
like  Morris,  gifted  with  temper  and  uncontrol,  letters  poured 
over  to  London  by  every  vessel,  with  charges  and  counter- 
charges, reproofs,  suggestions,  defences  and  suspicions,  until 
the  little  provincial  capital  boiled  as  only  a little  tea-pot  can. 
A better  system  to  promote  jealousies  than  the  colonial 
could  hardly  be  devised.  Communications  were  regularly 
ordered  to  be  made  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  but  every  member 
of  the  Governor’s  Council  was  instructed  to  write  directly 
and  secretly  to  the  Secretary  on  matters  of  State;  and  all 
quarrels  in  a province  became,  or  were  thought  matters  of 
State,  if  not  high  treason.  Communication  was  so  irregular 
(the  monthly  packet-boats  to  New  York  and  to  the  West 
Indies  not  being  established  until  1755),  that  it  became  ab- 
solutely necessary  to  have  friends  at  Court;  and  at  last  the 
Assembly  spent  about  one-quarter  of  the  tax  levy  in  paying  a 
London  agent  to  represent  them  before  the  Lords  of  Trade 
and  the  Council.  Governor  Cosby  suspended  Lewis  Morris 
as  Chief  Justice  for  alleged  tyranny  over  the  Bar,  inattention 
to  duty  and  drinking.  But  Morris  went  to  England,  got  the 
Governor’s  action  reversed,  claimed  the  Presidency  of  the 
Council  on  the  Governor’s  sudden  death,  and  actually  got  the 
appointment  as  Governor  in  his  room.  No  wonder  that  the 
appropriation  bill  for  the  support  of  such  a government  was 
the  battle  of  each  year,  and  that  the  question  of  taxation  by 
the  Crown  become  a vexed  boundary,  on  which  the  whole 
country-side  would  rally. 

The  taxes,  as  we  have  seen,  were  little  enough — $3,300  to 
$10,000  a year;  half  to  the  Government,  $500  to  $1,000  to 
the  Chief  Justice,  something  to  the  second  Judge,  Clerk  of 
Council,  Doorkeepers  and  Clerk  of  Assembly,  and  $250  for 
printing.  The  Assemblymen  received  half  a dollar  a day 
and  some  mileage.  The  Council  had  only  the  honor  of  the 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 


151 


position.  Accounts  were  simple  enough.  The  Assembly 
were  their  own  comptrollers,  and  copies  of  the  accounts  went 
to  the  many  records  of  the  English  Rolls  Office,  where  they 
are  indexed,  recorded  and  filed  in  oblivion  to  this  day.  There 
only  can  we  find  our  New'  Jersey  history  or  a complete  copy 
of  our  own  laws. 

The  supply  bills  of  the  time  are  curious  reading,  and  all 
on  a model  very  different  from  modern  tax  laws.  Each  bill 
grants  a supply  for  Government,  never  for  over  a few  years, 
generally  one  or  two.  It  fixes  salaries  and  quotas  for  each 
county,  and  names  county  assessors  and  treasurers.  It 
then  orders  rates  to  be  assessed  within  certain  limits,  in  the 
discretion  of  the  assessors.  For  instance,  the  Act  of  1756, 


raising  £3,000,  orders  rates  of- 

1 — 30  shillings  on  householders. 

4 — 80  shillings  on  ferries. 

2—40  “ 

on  merchants. 

4—15  “ 

on  trading  sloops. 

5—80  “ 

on  saw-mills. 

G “ 

on  cartmen. 

4—80  “ 

on  grist-mills. 

4 “ 

on  laboring  men. 

4—40  “ 

on  fulling-mills. 

1 “ 

on  a bought  servant 

30—70  “ 

on  furnaces. 

9 “ 

on  a coach. 

7—35  ‘ ‘ 

on  forges. 

3 “ 

on  a chaise. 

75  “ 

on  glass-houses. 

1 “ 

on  a chair. 

120 

on  molasses  stills. 

! £1— £2 

on  peddlers. 

The  rest  of  the  quota  is  ordered  to  be  raised  by  pro  rata 
assessment  in  the  county,  on  cattle  (valued  at  25  shillings  a 
head),  on  sheep  (at  3 shillings  a head),  and  on  all  tracts  of 
land  of  which  a part  is  improved  or  cultivated,  valuing  such 
tracts  within  sums  fixed  for  each  county,  the  lowest  lawful 
assessment  being  £8,  or  say  $27,  for  one  hundred  acres,  and 
the  highest,  £40,  or  say  $133,  per  hundred  acres.  The  usual 
valuation,  even  in  1770,  was  about  $60  to  $70  for  a hundred 
acres  of  improved  land,  which  Governor  Franklin  states  was 
not  much  more  than  the  rental  value  at  that  time.  Beyond 
this,  there  was  no  tax  except  work  on  the  roads  and  bridges, 
of  which  there  were  very  few. 

In  practical  wisdom  we  have  much  to  learn  from  our  ances- 


152 


TAXES  AND  MONEY  IN  NEW  JERSEY 


tors  as  to  taxation,  though  we  may  teach  them  as  to  currency 
and  credit.  They  taxed  visibles  only,  on  which  the  tax  was 
certain  to  be  assessed.  They  taxed  improved  property  only, 
from  which  the  tax  could  readily  be  collected,  by  distraint  or 
otherwise.  Such  a tax  fell  lightly  on  the  community,  because 
the  yearly  value  of  the  land  would  always  pay  the  tax.  They 
recognized  the  truth  that  a certain  tax  on  any  one  lcind  of 
property  is  a tax  on  all  property.  We  try  to  tax  uncertain- 
ties and  invisibles,  rights,  credits,  book  accounts  and  unpro- 
ductive speculative  property,  and  in  consequence  sharpers 
dodge  our  taxes  and  land-sharks  buy  up  tax  titles,  while 
honest  folk  are  forced  to  pay  for  other  people,  and  if  poor 
and  unable  to  advance  the  money  assessed  on  unproductive 
property,  have  to  submit  to  endless  interest,  forfeitures  and 
penalties.  If  the  old  system  did  nothing  else,  it  got  the 
taxes  in,  instead  of  postponing  them,  as  we  do,  borrowing 
meanwhile. 

In  seven  years  after  the  surrender  of  the  Crown  in  1709, 
there  came  a sudden  call  for  an  expedition  against  the  French 
in  Canada,  and  New  Jersey,  as  ever,  was  at  the  front,  with  a 
vote  of  £3,000,  to  be  raised  on  bills  of  credit.  These  were 
to  be  receivable  for  taxes,  to  be  sunk  in  a few  years  by  tax 
levy,  and  meanwhile  to  be  a legal  tender.  Bonded  debt,  pay- 
able in  long  time,  with  interest,  was  then  unknown,  or,  1 1 
least,  uncommon.  Kings  usually  borrowed  of  the  Jews  or 
issued  paper  money,  and  the  Colony  took  the  latter  course. 
In  1714  we  find  the  Assembly  waking  to  protective  measures, 
and  they  lay  a duty  on  slaves,  in  order  to  encourage  white 
immigration,  and  an  export  duty  on  wheat,  to  benefit  flouring 
mills.  But  as  they  waked  to  a sense  of  their  commerce,  so 
did  England,  and  in  1721,  when  Governor  Burnet  is  commis- 
sioned, he  is  specially  ordered  to  sign  no  act  for  paper  money 
except  for  support  of  Government,  without  a clause  suspend- 
ing its  operation  till  approved  by  the  King,  to  keep  a monop- 
oly of  trade  to  English  ships,  and  to  allow  no  furs  or  copper 
ore  to  go  to  any  place  but  England. 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 


153 


Meanwhile,  with  improvement  came  a strong  demand  for 
more  circulating  medium.  There  seems  to  have  been  a real 
dearth  of  silver  at  the  time.  England’s  new  trade  in  the 
East  Indies  drew  money  there,  while  the  neighboring  States 
of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  had  adopted  bills  of  credit, 
which  were  legal  tender  with  them  but  not  in  New  Jersejq 
and  there  was  really  no  money  to  pay  taxes,  etc.,  since 
the  produce  of  New  Jersey  sold  only  for  bills  of  the  neigh- 
boring States.  Accordingly,  an  act  was  passed  to  allow  the 
issue  of  £40,000  of  paper  money. 

The  terms  of  this  issue  (as  of  all  the  ante-Revolutionary  bills 
issued  in  time  of  peace)  were  somewhat  peculiar.  A loan 
commission  was  incorporated  by  the  act  in  each  county,  and 
the  proportion  of  the  issue  belonging  to  that  county  was  to 
be  lent  by  them  at  five  per  cent,  interest  on  good  first 
mortgage  security,  payable  in  sixteen  years,  in  equal  annual 
installments,  the  installments  of  the  first  eight  years  being 
lent  out  again.  Thus  the  Government  was  more  than  sup- 
ported on  the  interest , while  the  principal  was  to  be  used  as 
it  fell  due,  to  cancel  the  bills  of  credit.  If  honestly  managed, 
the  whole  fund  was  soundly  secured,  and  the  bills  would  be 
kept  in  good  standing.  Thus  the  State  did  not  borrow 
money  at  all,  and  a good  currency  for  internal  affairs  and  a 
sound  system  of  loans  on  mortgage,  at  reasonable  interest, 
were  at  once  obtained.  Much  to  the  credit  of  our  State,  its 
bills,  unlike  the  Continental  currency,  were  always  honestly 
sunk  when  due. 

The  evils  of  the  system  were  more  remote,  but  were  those 
incident  to  any  inflexible  legislative  system  of  banking: 
namely,  that  if  continued,  there  was  danger  of  over-issue, 
such  as  had  reduced  the  value  of  New  England  currency,  so 
that  a guinea  was  worth  £5;  while  on  the  other  hand,  if  the 
bills  were  sunk,  the  calling  in  of  the  loans  would  cause 
distress.  The  system  honestly  carried  out  would  probably 
have  been  unobjectionable,  if  there  had  been  grafted  upon  it 
the  device  discovered  and  adopted  by  modern  bankers,  of  main- 


154 


TAYES  AND  MONEY  IN  NEW  JERSEY 


taining  a coin  reserve,  which,  if  kept  up  continually  to  a pro- 
portion— often  a small  proportion — of  the  bills  issued,  will  of 
itself  avail  for  specie  payment,  and  indicate  by  its  decrease 
whether  the  issue  is  too  large  for  the  natural  trade  of  the 
country,  for  which  alone  paper  money  is  adapted. 

Faulty  though  the  measure  was,  however,  it  was  at  first  a 
benefit.  It  gave  a sound  circulating  medium.  It  established 
a bank  at  which  enterprising  men,  able  to  furnish  good 
security  in  property,  could  raise  money  at  fair  interest  for 
further  ventures.  Besides,  it  supported  the  Government  for 
our  frugal  forefathers  without  expense  or  taxation;  and  this 
made  the  measure  none  the  less  popular,  we  may  be  sure, 
with  an  Assembly  that,  under  the  property  qualifications  of 
the  day,  was  composed  entirely  of  large  freeholders. 

But  this  last  fact  introduced  a curious  and  new  element  of 
strength  into  the  ever- recurring  contest  about  supplies.  In 
course  of  years,  as  the  principal  of  the  loan  was  called  in,  and 
the  bills  canceled  according  to  law,  the  interest  of  the  balance 
became  insufficient  for  the  support  of  Government,  while  the 
Colony  was  distressed  by  the  forced  reduction  of  the  loans. 
Money  became  scarce,  and  new  taxation  became  unpopular 
just  when  it  became  necessary.  Lands  fell  in  value,  and  the 
cry  went  up  for  a new  issue  of  loans.  But  by  this  time  the 
Lords  of  Trade  had  determined  that  no  more  acts  for  the 
issue  of  bills  of  credit  should  be  passed.  In  some  States,  not 
in  ours,  they  had  fallen  greatly  in  value,  and  the  English 
merchants  insisted  that  they  would  not  be  paid  in  depreciated 
paper.  The  Colonists  were  as  obstinately  determined  that 
their  sole  banking  and  credit  system  should  not  be  destroyed, 
and  refused  supplies  by  taxation  unless  a bill  of  credit  act 
should  be  passed  at  the  same  time.  The  resident  Governors 
usually  stood  by  the  Colonists,  but  dared  not  disobey  instruc- 
tions, and  the  records  are  full  of  correspondence  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  of  petitions  and  arguments  made  before  the  English 
authorities  by  the  agents  of  the  Colonies.  Colonial  jealousy 
of  the  land-tax  grew  with  that  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  bills 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 


155 


of  credit.  As  early  as  1729,  Governor  Montgomerie  was 
ordered  to  force  a repeal  in  New  York  of  the  application  of 
the  interest  on  loans  to  the  support  of  Government,  and  found 
it  impossible. 

In  1733,  so  much  of  the  old  issue  in  New  Jersey  had  been 
called  in  that  a new  act  for  £40,000  more  was  passed,  but 
though  urged  by  the  Governor  was  not  approved  for  two  years. 

In  1737,  Lewis  Morris  became  Governor,  coming  into  office 
after  having  had  a bitter  contest  with  the  Assembly  while 
Chief  Justice,  and  determined  to  carry  out  the  English 
instructions  against  further  issue  of  bills  of  credit.  In  1744, 
an  Act  of  Parliament  passed  prohibiting  any  such  new  issue 
in  New  England,  where  the  currency  had  fallen  most  in 
value,  and  the  analogy  of  this  act  was  pleaded  by  the  Crown 
in  New  Jersey.  The  result  was  such  a bitter  fight  between 
the  legislature  and  Governor  Morris  that  all  supplies  were 
refused  by  the  Assembly  for  four  years. 

It  is  obvious  that  this  question  was  not  one  of  mere  taxa- 
tion, although  the  battle  was  always  over  the  supply  bill,  and 
the  people  were  thus  taught,  year  by  year,  to  regard  the  ques- 
tion of  taxation  for  the  support  of  English  Government  as  a 
vital  issue.  The  real  grievance  was  the  sudden  iron-bound 
reduction  of  the  whole  credit  system  of  the  Colony. 

Had  England  remained  at  peace,  a few  years  might  possibly 
have  settled  the  whole  question.  There  would  have  been 
great  distress,  but  the  loans  would  have  been  paid,  the  bills 
canceled,  taxes  established  for  the  support  of  Government, 
and  then  England  might  have  imposed  her  excise  without 
much  difficulty.  But  it  was  not  so  to  be.  The  struggles  against 
the  French  and  Indians  into  which  the  Colonies  were  drawn, 
rendered  necessary  a new  issue  of  currency,  and  reopened  the 
whole  question  of  support  by  taxes  as  against  support  by 
interest  paid  to  the  Governmental  bank.  As  early  as  1746, 
expeditions  were  fitted  out  for  the  West  Indies  and  Canada 
by  use  of  the  interest  on  outstanding  loans,  and  of  the  bills 
kept  for  exchange  of  torn  currency.  In  the  next  year,  Gov- 


156 


TAXES  A ND  MONEY  IN  NEW  JERSEY 


ernor  Belcher  took  office,  and  though  he  did  his  best  to  recon- 
cile the  conflicting  parties,  the  Colony  was  inflexible  as  ever 
for  a new  loan.  The  amount  outstanding  did  not  supply 
interest  enough  to  support  the  Government.  The  Colonists 
refused  to  tax  themselves  for  that  support  in  addition  to  the 
expenses  of  the  war,  which  amounted  to  £15,402. 

A proclamation  under  instructions  closing  all  iron  mills 
aggravated  the  contest.  Only  a small  part  of  the  expenses  of 
the  expeditions  was  paid  by  England,  and  in  1754  the  Colony 
stoutly  refused  all  supplies  unless  they  were  allowed  to  loan 
£60,000. 

The  Lords  of  Trade  consented  on  condition  that  the  bills 
should  not  be  made  a legal  tender,  which  the  Assembly  thought 
would  make  them  useless.  Legislation  came  to  a dead  lock. 
Petition  after  petition  was  sent,  representing  the  care  with 
which  the  State  credit  had  been  maintained.  But  with  the 
outbreak  of  the  French  War  in  1755-6,  the  contest  ceased. 
The  Colonists  agreed  that  the  bills  should  only  be  a legal 
tender  to  the  State,  and  the  tide  of  currency  was  let  loose, 
both  for  war  expenses  and  for  loans.  In  1755-7,  £82,500 
were  issued;  by  1758,  £155,151,  and  by  the  close  of  the  war, 
£347,500! 

The  Colony  went  gallantly  and  enthusiastically  into  the 
war  and  the  defence  of  her  more  exposed  neighbors.  Her 
population  was  largely  Quaker  in  origin,  but  non-resistance 
was  a dying  doctrine  and  destined  wholly  to  fade  away  in  the 
sorrows  of  the  Revolution.  It  is  a digression  pardonable 
to  State  pride  to  refer  to  the  ^records  as  to  the  mustering, 
equipment  and  good  service  of  her  troops,  and  especially  to  a 
letter  of  Governor  Belcher  reciting  that  from  a population  of 
75,000,  of  all  ages,  including  perhaps  15,000  men,  reduced  by 
the  capture  at  Louisburgh,  or  in  Canada,  of  two  detachments 
of  500  each,  few  of  whom  had  returned  from  French  prisons 
to  their  native  soil,  the  Colony  had  nevertheless  sent  out  1,000 
more  men  by  1759,  thoroughly  clothed  and  equipped,  and  in  a 
state  of  efficiency  and  supply  that  made  them  equal  to  1,500 


BEFORE  THE  REVOLUTION. 


157 


from  other  States,  and  had  raised  in  two  years  £140,000  for 
the  service,  “a  large  sum  for  a community  that  has  no  foreign 
trade.”  From  that  day  to  the  Centennial  at  Yorktown  we 
have  been  proud  of  our  militia  and  their  fighting  qualities. 

Our  aid  was  especially  needed  in  New  York,  our  then 
weaker  neighbor,  with  a population  of  only  55,000,  scattered 
along  the  Hudson  and  Mohawk;  and  it  was  generously  given. 
But  after  the  war  the  reaction  came.  Taxes  were  unsparingly 
imposed  to  the  amount  of  £15,000  a year,  to  sink  the  bills  of 
credit,  and  by  1766  the  debt  had  been  reduced  to  about 
£190,000. 

Then  the  ever-recurring  question  came  up,  whether  the 
people  in  time  of  distress  should  be  forced  to  pay  off  the  loans 
on  their  farms,  or  whether  new  bills  should  be  lent  out  as 
before.  In  the  last  case  the  Government  would  be  supported 
by  interest.  In  the  first,  taxes  only  could  be  relied  on,  lands 
being  depreciated  in  price  to  half  their  value  by  the  calling 
in  of  mortgages. 

If  England  had  then  assumed  even  her  own  share  of  the 
expenses  of  the  war,  the  question  of  separation  might  not 
have  arisen.  Instead  of  that,  she  tried  to  tax  the  Colonies. 
In  1771,  the  question  came  up  flatly  whether  New  Jersey 
would  tax  herself  to  support  regiments  of  the  line  here.  She 
refused.  The  States  united,  and  the  Revolution  came  with 
its  storms  of  war  and  woe. 

Taxes  and  money  are  a dry  subject.  But  it  has  been  inter- 
esting to  discover  that  the  Revolutionary  motto,  “ No  taxation 
without  representation,”  was  not  anew  cry,  but  an  old  griev- 
ance kept  alive  from  generation  to  generation  by  its  curious 
alliance  with  the  struggle  as  to  State  banking  and  loans  and 
all  the  evils  of  money  legislation.  On  the  other  hand,  we  can 
look  back  at  that  Utopia  when  men  were  not  under  the  tyranny 
of  municipal  assessments  and  debts;  while  we  may  congratu- 
late ourselves  in  the  possession  of  a sounder  system  of  banking 
and  credit,  and  that  our  politics,  if  less  pure,  are  at  least 
less  bitterly  earnest  than  those  of  our  forefathers. 

22 


